Turkish Cypriots hand over murder attempt suspect

A Greek Cypriot fugitive detained in the north was handed over by Turkish Cypriots on Friday after around spending two years in jail.

Iosif Iosif, aka Sifis, 42, was being sought by police in the Republic in connection with an attempt against the life of businessman Nicos Rodotheou in Nicosia late on November 26, 2018.

Sifis fled to the north but was arrested in January 2019 in a flat in Famagusta. He was found in possession of two 9mm pistols and ammunition.

He was sentenced to five years in jail in June of that year.

Police issued an arrest warrant against Sifis after unknown individuals on a motorcycle fired five shots at Rodotheou’s car but missed the businessman.

The assailants then fled the scene.

Police arrested three people who had been trying to hide a moped, which was later identified by Rodotheou as being the same as the one used in the shooting.

One of the suspects, a 28-year-old, named Sifis as the person who gave the instructions.

Rodotheou is the brother of businessman Andros Rodotheou who was gunned down while at a friend’s house at the village of Gerasa, Limassol in April 2018.